Round-bale compress.



No. 704,958. A Patented luly l5, |902.

` F. G. DETERICH.

BUUND BALE CMPBESS.

(Application led Nov. 80, 1.901.) (llo Model.) 8 Shaets'S.heet I. l

lA TTOHNE YJ' me Hemus PETERS co PHoTauTno.. .vAsHmcrM, u a

ROUND BALE CUMPRESS. v'

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1901.) (No Hode t 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

` gigli.

mi' cams #mus CQ. Pumauwo.. wAsmNGraNI D. a

ROUND BALE CMPRESS.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1901.)

s sirne-sheet. a.v

(No Model.)

Jiu MM PETERS co Puofurm.. wnsnmnm Nn. 704,958. Patenten July 15." 1902.

F. a. mETEmcH.

BOUND BALE GOMPRESS.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

l Patented luly I5, |902. F'. G. DIETERIEH. Routen BALE cuMPBEss.

[Apnuflmun med Nov. so, 1901.)

6 Sheats-Sheet 5.

IIIIIII W/ TNE SSE S A from-f5 xs Patented my l5; 1902. F. s. mETEmcH.ROUND CDMPRESS.

BALE

(Application led Nov Hflllllinmm NVENTOH l s E w N UNITED STATES PATENTEEIcE.-

FRED e. YDIETEEICE, or wasnme'romprsraic'ror ooLUMBrA.

/ FlOUND-BALE- COMPRESS.

sPECIFIcaTIoN forming pm of Letters Patent No. 704,958, dated July 15,1902:

' Applicatie inea November so,'19o1'. sriai No. 34,249. (No model.)

To ir/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRED 1G. DIETERICH, of

the city of Washingtonyin the District of y Columbia, have invented anew and Improved Round-Bale Compress, of which the following is aspecification. Y Y Y My invention is in the nature ofan improvedapparatus for compressing cotton or other brous material into roundbales; and it especially relates to that type of baling apparatus inwhich the material to be compressed is formed into thin sheets or layersand the body of the compressed material constanti y augmented endwise byeach layer, and

holder, the holder and cap being held for rotation. In the operation ofabaling-p'ress of the character stated the chamber or holder under theslottedhead-is rst filled byhand with the material to be compressed,after which the slotted Ycap and chamber are rotated andadditional'material fed onto the cap over its slot or slots and caughtup or engaged by the loose material previously introduced intothe-chamber by hand, and by reason of the entanglement or interlacing ofthe material under and over the slotted plate said material above theplate is drawn through the slot or slots in the plate, and on account ofits being crowded on top 'of the material under it said material iscondensed and flattened intospiral layers. In some'types of the pressVabove referred to a receding follower operates within thebaling-chamber, onto which the material as it is compressed is built upon in endwise spiral windings until the bulk is of a predeterminedheight, when a part thereof (the lower end) sucient to form a bale isseparated from the remainder by suitable means, temporarily tied, and

then removed, the latter operation` in some instances causing atemporarystopping of the'machine and in others no interruption of theendwise spiral folding operation. r

The typeof machine referred to, while generally effective forproduci ngthe endwise-fold round bale, does no1-practically serve all of thedesired purposes. The initial filling of the baling-chamber isobjectionable in that much time is wasted in starting the compressedcolumn, `and one end thereof (the lower) presents the materialin ahomogeneous compressed mass. Another and serious disadvantage in the useof the slotted head lies in the manner in which the material is fed fromabove the plate through the slot, for the reason that the feed ofthematerial depends :almost entirely on arthorough entanglement orint'erlacing of the fibers between the material above and below theplate to. suchA an-=extent that as the plate is rotated the solid orcompressedlayers at the upper end of the bale being formed will pull thefibrous material through the slot. As the fibrous material at timesbecomes `choked or clogged atthe throats orslotsfof the cap or pressermember, it follows that the connection between the material'above andbelow the slottedplate becomes broken or impaired to such an extent thata uniform or regular drawing in lof thematerial under the slottedpresser-,plate lis impossible; this latter objectionable. result vbeingalso Vproduced by the tendency of the material (especially when lightand ilulfy, as in cottonlto bridge or arch above the slot or slotsinthe-cap or head plate, such bridging or arching preventing, as itwere, the loose materialfrom coming in sufficiently close to the slotsin the headplate to contact or interlace with the material under thesaid plate. Numerous devices have been patented for effectivelypreventing bridging orl arching above the slotted head-plates, some ofwhich have been found 'to some extent practical; but so far as I know nodevice or devices have been provided which act to feed the material fromthe hopper to the head-plate in a highly-compressed uniform bat and inan uninterrupted manner. lAgain, in the operation of a press ofthe IOOkind above stated, as the feed of the material depends entirely on thetight entanglement or interlacing of the material over and under thehead-plate, the pull strain at times is such as to break the fibers,especially long staple cotton, and seriously injure the staple beingbaled.

My invention, primarily, has for its object to provide a compressingmechanism for forming a round bale on the end-wound plan in which all ofthe objectionable features above referred to and others to be found inthe type of baling-presses above stated and in use are avoided, in whichthe several parts are compactly arranged and especially designed foreconomical manufacture,and which can be readily employed at anygin-house and manipulated by unskilled labor.

Another and essential feature of my invention lies in the constructionof a press of the kind described in which expensive and cumbersomebridge or arch breaking and agitating devices are dispensed with and thematerial fed in a uniform and uninterrupted manner and without requiringan interlacing or entangling pulling action.

My invention also comprehends as a salient feature a means forcompressing the staple into a bat and feeding said bat under thepresser-head in spiral layers uninterruptedly and directly onto areceding platen or follower at the starting of a bale, whereby, first,to dispense with the preliminary hand-filling of the chamber under thepresser-head; second, to maintain a continuons and uniform spiral layerof batting; third, to practically compress all of the air out of thestaple before it is entered under the presser-head for its finalcompression, and, fourth, to reduce the final pressure to a minimum,whereby the expensive receding follower mechanism, such as is requiredin the patented types of compressers above referred to, is notabsolutely required.

In its more complete make-up my invention comprehends a baling-chamber,preferably stationary, (but may rotate in a direction reverse to thedirection in which the bat is laid,)

a hopper rotatable over the bale-chamber, bat forming and layingcompressing-rolls mounted in the rotatable hopper to travel in acircular plane over the baling-chamber and simultaneously revolve insuch direction as to draw the fiber into them in the direction of theirsweep movement over the baling-chamber and deliver the condensed bat infront of the said rolls, whereby after the bat is compressed and fed outfrom the compressingrolls said rolls will also act as a lapping meansfor laying each superimposed layer of. the bulk to constitute the bale.Means are also supported on and rotatable with the rotary hopper havingindependent vibratory motion to gently agitate the fibrous bulkdischarged thereon and having feedways inclined in the direction of therotation of the hopper and arranged to lead the material to the throator contact-in g surfaces of the compressing-rolls.

roasts My invention also consists in other subordinate features and anumber of :novel details of construction and combination of parts, allof which will hereinafter be fully explained, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

To make the scope of my invention clearly understood, I deem it properto state I am aware it is not broadly new to provide bat formingorcompressing rollsand -lapping means for laying the bat as it passesfrom the bat-forming rolls, such general structure being found in patentto E. M. Ivens, No. 623,020, granted April l1, 1899. This part of myinvention, however, differentiates from the patent referred to, as thecompressingrolls in my case also form the bat-layers and means foreecting an endwise pressure on the spiral layers and against thefollower or opposing pressure member. So far as relates to presses ofthe Lowry type the feed part of my invention dierentiates therefrom inthat the staple is initially compressed into a solid bat before itpasses under the final or end pressing means and without the exertion orlongitudinal pull on the staple fibers. Again, in my construction thestaple is whirled around in its bulk with the rotatable hopper agitatedand at the same time is fed in a'positive direction to the bat-formingrolls, the action of which is to draw the fiber therebetween withoutdanger of pulling out, breaking, or otherwise injuring t-he longfibers.. In other words, in the Lowry press the pressure is not exertedon the staple until it passes under the slotted head, whereas in mymethod of operation the staple is primarily compressed before it passesunder the presser-platen or head.

In the most complete construction of my compress the bale-formingmechanism includes a receding follower, which may be of any approvedconstruction-for example, al counterweighted head, upon which the baleis built up. I prefer, however, to use a receding follower of thehydrostatic type, such as is clearly shown in the patent to Ivensaforesaid, No. 623,020. Severing mechanism for parting thebale-sectionfrom the accumulated compressed bulk above it and a tempolOCIIO

rary bale-binding device of an approved construction are also employedand will hereinafter be more definitely referred to.

Having thus set out the general arrangement of my construction ofcompress and its differentiating features over what has heretofore beenaccomplished in this art, so far as I know, I shall now describe thedetails of construction disclosed in the accompanying drawings; but Idesire it understood that while the special arrangement of parts shownin the said drawings disclose the general prin ciples of my inventionand au assemblage of parts well adapted to accomplish the resultsdesired in an economical, effective, and simple manner, the said partsmay be varied or modified without departing from the scope of theappended claims. For example, in the preferred form the hopper, with thebat-forming rolls, is rotatably mounted and the bale` in detail.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals,letters, and characters indicate like parts in all of the iigures,Figure l isa perspective view of a compress constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the upperbale-forming portion of the press. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotaryhopper and the combined agitator and feedway devices. Fig. 4 is avertical section of the same, on the line t4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the press, the bale-stays being shown applied to the lowerend of the compressed column. Fig. 6`is a detail view-illustrating aslightly- Inodified construction of my invention, hereinafter referredto. Fig.. 7 is a similar view of a further modification, hereinafteralso explained. Fig. S is an inverted perspective View of the hopperwith its component parts. Fig. 9 is an inverted `plan view of the lowerend of the baling-chamber with my improved severing mechanism, thecutters or blades being in their normal or inoperative position. Fig. 10is a similar view, the blades being shown as moved inward to theiroperative position. Fig. ll is a side view of a portion of the press,illustrating the bale-stays as applied, and Fig. 12 is a viewillustrating the manner of removing the said stays after the bale ispermanently tied.`

In the construction of my press the same comprises practically threedistinct operating mechanisms, all of which are, however, cooperativelyarranged, whereby to provide, first, for the complete compression of apredetermined quantity of the'material operated on; second, for severingthe .compressed bulk into proper bale-sections; third, to temporarilybind the said bale-sections. Of these the compression mechanism embodiesnearly all of the essential features of my invention.

The operatingparts of my compress are -mounted upon asuitably-constructed frame@ for example, of the construction shown inFig. 1in which A designates a east-metal I), hereinafter fullydescribed. Upon the upbase, from which 'rise angle 'metal standards A',consisting of theverticalpportions a, a a, and the downwardly andinwardly curved members a d', which join at the-base A to form a centralhub or reinforce portion CL2 for the receding follower plunger rod orpiston per end of the standards A' is rigidly mounted a circularbed-plate 'B, having a central opening h, through which thebaling-chamber C, to be presentlydescribed, pendently extends.Projectedvertically from the bedplate B and rigidly secured thereto isanumber of rods or posts D, which are 'braced by annular web portions b,integral with the bed-plate B. The posts D serve as a means for securelybracing the baling-chamber and the compression mechanism and also serveas supports for the stationary upper hopper H, xedly held by brackets 7L71, projected radially from the upper ege of said hopper H and made fastto the reduced upper ends ci d of Y the posts D, as clearly shown inFig. l.

In the Lowry type of round-bale presses, hereinbefore referred to, thecotton, as before stated, is fed into a stationary hopper, from whenceit is drawn under the lslotted stationary head in its iiuffy or loosestate and compressed after it has passed under the slotted head. In myconstruction of press the action on the cotton is substantiallyreversed; the same while fed into a stationary hopper (which in my pressmerely acts as a receiver for the hopper portion proper, indicated byVl) is initially compressed into a sheet or bat, and then fed in spirallaps into the bale-chamber and under the upper presser platen or head,which effects a iinal pressure on the layers after being superimposedupon the endof the column as itis built up within the balingchamber.

For effecting a compressing operation of the character just described ina simple, positive, and eifective manner I have provided a special vconstruction of rotary hopper and combined bat forming,laying,andpressing devices for opposing the pressure exerted against thelower endof thecolumn bytherecedingfollower or equivalent devices. The saidmechanism, the construction of which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4L, and 8, comprises a combination of parts,all of which aremounted to rotate about the central axis of the baling-chamber andseveral of said parts supported forindependent motion during such rotarymovement; and the said'mechanism consistsl of what I term a mastercasting or frame F, as the several parts thereofV are integrally formed.This frame comprises a horizontal part 2, which I shall hereinafterter-m the fslotted head,7 as the same forms the abutment against whichthe receiving end of the column of compressed material in thebaling-chamber bears and which aids in the advancement of the compressedcolumn through the hailing-chamber as the spiral layers of thecompressed bat are added thereto. The head 2 at its periphery mergeswith the vertical portion 2, the upper end of which has an annular dange2 for conveniently attaching the hoppermember l, which is fixedlysecured to the frame F to rotate therewith. The frame F also includes ahorizontal annular portion 2d, the outer portion lof which is formedwith a master gear-rim j,

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adapted to mesh with and receive motion from `the drive-pinion g on thesliaftGr, presently again referred to. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2,the diameter of the cylinder-chamber a: Within the vertical portion 2 ofthe frame F is equal to that of the diameter of the baling-chamber C,and said part w is disposed directly over the upper open end c of saidchamber, which end has a beveled inner edge c to facilitate the entranceof the spiral layers into the chamber C. The frame F is rotatablysupported upon friction-rollers 3 3, projected radially from the upperend of the chamber C and just below an annular rim c2, fixedly securedto or formed as an integral part of the chamber C, and whose uppersurface has cog-teeth c3, the reason for which will be presentlyexplained.

f2 designates an annular portion of the frame F, pendent from thehorizontal part, which has an inturned flange f3, adapted to rest andride upon the rollers 3 3, and to further reduce friction and facilitatethe rotary motion of the frame F ball-races are provided in the opposingsurfaces of the members c2 and f3 to receive ball-bearings, (see Fig.4,) and to further provide for a free movement of the head 2 over thecompressed material under it the head 2 is equipped With a number ofradially-disposed rollers 4 4.

2O designates a bearing-block projected up centrally from the head 2,the upper end of which is preferably beveled, as at 20a, to receive thefoot part of a standard 5, which terminates in a socket 5a, the purposeof which will presently appear. The head 2 has a number of slots 2S,projected radially from the block 20. In the drawings I have shown twoof said slots disposed diametrically opposite each other; but a greateror less number may be used, if desired. It is preferred to have but twoslots, as it admits of a more practical, positive, and uniform feedingof the liuy material to the bat forming, laying, and finalpressure-applying devices than is possible when a greater number ofmaterial-passage slots is provided.

Coperatively joined With each feed-slot 2s is an independently-operatingmeans in the nature of bat-forming compressing-rolls for eecting aninitial pressure and expulsion of air from the cotton, for laying thebat in spiral laps, and for imparting a final pressure on theaccumulating end of the column. The said means consists of a pair ofopposing rolls'R R', which may have a solid impactingsurface, as shownin Fig. 2, or yielding surface, as shown in Fig. 4. In the preferredconstruction the rolls R R' are superposed or in a vertical plane; butsuch position of rolls is not absolutely necessary to eect the generalresults desired, they being preferably so arranged to adapt them for apractical use with a preferred form of feeding device, presentlyexplained. In the preferred construction the rolls R R are arranged in avertical plane, the lower roll R being dis-l posed in the slot 2S, withits lower edgel in a plane with or slightly below the lower or bearingface of the presser-rollers 4 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, byreference to which and to Fig. 2 it will be noticed the rolls R R' eachhave a central shaft, (indicated by r r,) the inner end rx of whichjournals in the central block 20 and the outer end extends throughbearing-orifices 2h in the vertical part 2'.

R2 R3 designate cog-gears mounted on the outer ends of the shafts r r',held in mesh, and the lower one R2 to engage and travel upon thetooth-surface c3 of the rim c2 of the bale or stationary chamber C.

By providing a central block 2O it is manifest a number of bat-formingrolls may be provided,corresponding to the number of slots 2S in themember 2, as the inner ends of the shafts or spindles of said rolls canbe conveniently j ournaled in the central block 20. This block inpractice does not require great breadth or width, and hence but littleopen space or core is produced in the center of the bale.

The vertical or superposed arrangement of the rolls is veryadvantageous, as'it admits of setting the bat forming or compressingrolls in a convenient position to materially assist in effecting apositive and perfect feed of the cotton thereto, and from them into thebaling-chamber.

The drive-shaft Gr in operation conveys a rotary motion to the frame Fand the parts carried thereon in the direction indicated by arrow 10 inFig. 3, and, by reason of the gear R2 engaging the fixedly-heldgear-track c2 in the manner shown and hereinbefore described, motion isimparted to the rolls R R in opposite directions, as indicated by thearrows 15 15 in Fig. 4, which motion, it will be Observed, is in thedirection of movement of the rolls about the axial center of thebalecolumn being formed.

It is manifest that by the construction of the several parts as statedthe fibrous material as it is drawn in between the feed-rolls issubjected to a pressure sufcient to expel all air therefrom and toreduce it to a thin compact uniform bat or sheet before it is laidspirally upon the column being formed in the baling-chamber, and byreason of its being fed onto the column end in such shape very littlefinal pressure need be applied to the material under the slotted head orabutment to reduce the bulk to the desired density. Another and veryadvantageous result in handlingthe fibrous material in the mannerexplained is that danger of pulling, tearing, or otherwise injuring thebers of the staple being baled is reduced to the minimum, for the reasonthat all layers of the column are deposited in substantially the samedense thickness and weight, thereby making it possible to form a columnbuilt up of spiral end laps IOO capable of being unwound and spread outinto a continuous unbroken sheet of uniform thickness and densitythroughout.

To absolutely overcome' bridging and choking of the material and tomaintain a substantially uniform feed of the material to the rolls,especially when they are arranged irl yzo the preferred Way, as shown inFig. 4, a special form of hopper-bottom is provided. The bottom 7 iscentrally and loosely supported upon the standard 5, and is ofsuchdiameter relatively to the coincident diameter of the hopperadjacent the peripheral edges of the said bottom 7 to permit-of alimited gyratory movement of the hopper-bottom 7, such movement beingalso made possible by reason of a ball-bearing 7a, made fast to theunder side of the center of the bottom 7 and adapted to detachably seatin the socket 5a. When two sets of compressing or bat-formin g rolls RR'are employed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hopper-bottom 7 is madeof two sections, (indicated by 70.70%) one of-which, 70, graduallyinclines spirally from the top down inaforward direction-#that is,in thedirection of rotation of the hopper l--and terminates at the throat orentrantl end of the rolls R R` at one side, while the other section 70alikewise inclines towardthe other set of rolls RR'. To positively guidethe material directly t0 the entrant side of the said rolls, eachhoppersection also includes a deflector or guide portion xr 705', whichextends down in such proximity to the upper roll R as to prevent thematerial passing thereover. By reason of the peculiar construction ofthehopper-bottom it will be apparent that the staple asit is vfed into thefixedly-held hopper-section H and passes down onto the bottom 7 will bedivided into two separate bulks, each of-Y which is whirled around inthe direction of rotation of the hopper 1 and caused to gravitate down-Wardin the same direction toward therolls R R', clogging or bridging onsaid bottom being overcome by the spirally-inclined ways, the forwardthrust of the bulk, and the gyratory action of the bottom.

To facilitate the laying of the bat or sheet chamber, means are providedfor resisting the movement of the compressed material away from the heador abutment 2, or, inothery words, for maintaining its pressure againstthe abutment, so that the new material entered between the abutment andthe condensed material is itselfsubjected to a final compression to suchadegree where its resistance to further compression is sufficient toovercome the resistance that holds the mass `of compressed materialagainstthe abutment.

It should be here stated that by reason of the condensed cr bat-likecondition iti-.which the material is entered under the abutment in myform of press the perimeter or external surfaces of the column willpresent a sub- 1 where the external surface of the column is more orlless fludy is thereby overcome and the-column fed down in a uniformmanner. Again, by reason ot' the initial and in my press the mostcomplete compression of the material being effected prior to theentrance of the material under the abutment a very powerful finalpressure is not required. As anniformly-resisting or back pressure onthe column is necessarynnder all conditions to effect a proper andregular accumulation or column of compressed material, I employ areceding follower, which, as before stated, may be arranged on the plandisclosed in the E. M. Ivens patent, No. 623,020, and which,brietlystated, comprises a receding platen B5 on the upper end of a plunger P,which has its piston-head operatively held in a hydraulic cylinder B7,vmounted in such manner as to meet the conditions required. The cylinderB7 is connected with a suitable source of supply, preferablya. reservoircontaining water or other liquid underpressnre and havingitsconnecting-pipes provided with suitably arranged pressure regulatingvalve and exhausting means capable of being so adjusted and set toautomatically allow for bleeding ed or exhaustingthe fluid in cylinderB7when the pressure on the follower B5 reaches a predetermined point, suchconnections also having hand-operated valve devices arranged to be convenientlyoperated by the attendant to permit of a rapid or intermittentreceding of the platen and a quick upward movement thereof, asconditions mayrequire. To makethis feature of .my complete press betterunderstood, the receiver is designated by 44 in Figs. 1 and 5, and thesteam or other fluid pressure pipe that joins with the top thereof, 46,has a two-way cock 47 and an exhaust or waste pipe 48. The adjustment ofcock 47 in one directionwill allow steam to enter the receiver 44 andpress on the Water body therein,and when the handle of cock 47 is turnedin the other direction live steam is cut od and the exhaust fromreceiver 44 allowed to pass off through pipe 4S.

43 designates the pipe thatjoins the receiver 44 and cylinder BT and hasa hand-adjusted valve 40. Parallel pipes 42 42 join with the pipe 43 onopposite sides of valve 40, which vare connected by the two horizontalpipes 45 45'. Pipe 45 has a pressure-regulator 49, and pipe 45 has acheck-valve 50. The pressureregulator is of suitable construction,whereby IIO it is adapted to open at a predetermined pressure. Forexample, when set, say, at one hundred pounds in such case the plungerand head of the hydrostatic press will not recede until the pressure ofcotton between the abutment and the follower equals or exceeds suchamount, and thus the platen will be automatically and gradually loweredas the cotton is folded and pressed to such degree in the balingchamber-While I prefer in the most practical type of my press to use ahydrostatic receding follower mechanism, as stated, my invention is notconfined to such receding mechanism, as the initial compressingmechanism may be coperatively combined with a counterbalance followermechanism, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6.

So far as described it will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention belongs that in the starting of the bale it isonly necessary to shift the follower to its uppermost position to haveit nearly directly under theabutment or at least sufficiently away toallow7 for a few layers or spiral laps being laid thereon before anyfinal pressure is exerted thereon and to provide a soft base, upon whichthe accumulating laps are deposited in superimposed layers. Thus noinitial filling of loose material in the balingchamber and onto thereceding follower is necessary at the start, as the pressed bat is atonce laid in position on the follower plate or head.

f To render the press one of maximum capacity, I have provided a simpleform of severing mechanism,which also serves as a means for sustainingthe upper part of the severed column during the operation of temporarilybinding the severed bale-section, and thereby avoid the necessity ofstopping the operation of building up the compressed column. Thesevering means, which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and lO,comprises a number (four being shown) of cutting blades or arms S,pivotally mounted upon the under face of the rim C, that forms the lowerend of the balingchamber. The arms or cutters S are each curved to liewith their cutting edges outside of the circular space or chamberthrough which the column passes when drawn in to their normal position,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. The four blades S, it will be noticed,are quadrantly disposed upon the rim C5 and are mounted to swing in ahorizontal plane and with the point or inner ends to move toward thecenter or axial point of the column made when swung inward to theirsevering position. The several cutters may beindependently operated; butfor a quick action I prefer to join them to move in unison, and for suchpurpose the head or vouter ends of the members S have slots S radial totheir pivotal axis, into which project the pendent studs or lingers n oof a rotary lever V in the nature of a stout band or rod rotatably heldwithin an annular groove C inthe outer edge of the rim C5 and which hasa suitably-disposed hand-lever V', as shown. l

By providing a severing mechanism as described it is manifest that whenthe column is of a length sufficient to admit of severing the lowerpart-that is, to form the balethe operator by swinging the lever V inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9 will cause the members Sto cut into the column to such degree as to meet the condition required,it being apparent from Figs. 9 and l0 that by bringing the lever V tothe point marked c5 on Fig. IO the members S will be caused to enterwith their points at the center of the column, and if turned to thepoint o6 the said members S will have been swept entirely through thecolumn. This latter positioning of the members S under ordinaryconditions is not necessary, as a partial cut-- ting into the columnwill suffice for effecting a practical severing of the compressedcolumn, and by reason of such partial thrust of the members S into thecompressed mass they will act as supports for holding up the bulkcontained within the baling-chamber, and thereby admit of thecontinuation of laying the end laps on said bulk while the severed orlower end of the column is being temporarily bound and removed fromunder the upper or remaining part of the column and until the platen ofthe receding follower is again thrust upward in position to againsupport and effect a contra pressure thereon, it being understood thatso soon as the platen or follower head is moved up the members S areswung outward and returned to their normal position by moving the leverback in the direction indicated by the arrow V2.

I have illustrated simple, easily-manipu lated, andeffectively-operating bale-stayband devices for engaging the bale duringits removal from the press and until the permavnent securing-wires orother devices are applied to the bale.

In handling bales of the character stated by reason of the tendency ofthe detached part of the column to expand endwise it has been foundnecessary to apply a means for temporarily holding the detached part orbale from such expansion during the time it is removed from the pressand the application of the permanent tie devices.

I am aware that bale-stays have heretofore been provided consisting ofmembers adapted to be drawn taut by the endwise-expansive force of thebale.

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The type of band-stay illustrated in Figs.

ing the loose material in the direction of the movement of thebat-forming rolls and between their compressing-surfaces, for thepurposes described.

4. In a cotton-Daling press of the character described, a revolublehopper, a balingchamber, a revoluble head in the entrant end of the saidchamber, and abat-forming means, comprising a pair of superposed rollsmounted on the head-plate, and disposed radially relatively to thebaling-chamber, and means for imparting opposite rotation to the tworollers as theyare horizontally revolved with the head-plate.

5. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, the combination withaslotted headplate, a hopper over said plate, said hopper including abottom centrally suspended and having inclined ways leading to the slotsin the head plate for guiding the material thereto. l

6. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, substantially asdescribed, the combination of a baling-chamber, a slotted headplate,revoluble over the entrant end of said chamber, a hopper-section fixedlyconnected to and revoluble with the head-plate, said hopper includingspiral ways inclined downward in the direction of revolution of thehopper and the head, for leading the loose material to the slots.

7. In a cotton or other press, means for reducing the loose materialinto a bat or sheet, and laying said sheet in spiral superimposed endlaps, said means including a pair of superposed rolls, and means forrotating them relatively to each other and revolving both around acentral axis, as set forth.

8. In a machine for compressing fibrous or other material, thecombination with a receiving-chamber, and means for reducing thematerial to a bat, operative over the chamber, and adapted to lay thebat in superimposed layers therein; of an independentlysupported hopper,and an independently-supported bottom therefor having guideways forleading the material to the bat-forming means, for the purposesspecified.

9. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, the combination with areceivingchamber for the compressed material; of a hopper revoluble overthe entrant end of the receiving-chamber, said hopper having a slottedhead-plate movable therewith, and a supplemental bottom pivotallymounted on the hopper, and having portions for directing andconcentrating the fibrous material toward the los in the head-plate, forthe purposes speci- 10. Ina press of the character described, incombination with a receiving-chamber, and means for feeding the materialin superimposed laps into said chamber, said chamber having an annularsurface surrounding its discharge end; of a series of combined severingand sustaining members pivotally mounted on the annular surface, adaptedto sweep in a horizontal plane and penetrate the column at a point inline with the lower edge of the receiving-chamber, and means forimparting motion to said severing members, substantially as shown andfor the purposes described.

11. In a machine of the character described, a severing mechanism,comprising in combination with the discharge end of the bale-receivingchamber; said chamber having an annular ange surrounding the dischargeend, radially-disposed combined cutter and sustaining members pivotallymounted on the annular flange to sweep across the discharge end of thereceiving-chamber, and a lever mechanism, rotatably mounted on theannular flange of the said chamber joined with the cutter-arms, andadapted to impart sweep movements thereto in unison, as set forth.

12. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, the combination withthe stationary receiving-chamber, and the rotatable hoppersection, saidsection including the slotted head-plate or abutment; of theradially-disposed compressing-rolls mounted on the headplate, andadapted to discharge the compressed bat or sheet into the slots of theheadplate, and an independently centrally supported hopper bottom,having a separate guideway or incline for each set of rolls,adapt ed tolead the material to said rolls in independent bulks, and mechanism forrevolving the hopper with the bat-forming rolls about the axial centerof the receiving-chamber and rotating the bat-forming rolls on their ownaxes, substantially as shown and described.

13. The combination with the stationary receiving-chamber C, having anannular cogrim c2, and radial roller-supports, the frame F revolubleover the upper end of the chamber C, having a pendent flange, adapted torest and rotate upon the radial roller-supports, said frame F having aslotted bottom or head-plate, superposed compressing-rollers cooperatingwith the slots and adapted to reduce the material to a bat or sheetprior to its passage through the slots, and to feed said sheet or batinto the slots, the gear g, and drive shaft for imparting rotation tothe frame F, substantially as and for the purposes described.

14. The combination with the chamber C, and the fiXedly-held hopper; ofa supplemental hopper held between the iXed hopper and the entrant endof the chamber C, said hopper including a slotted bottom for opposingthe entrant end of the chamber C, over which it has a radialsweep,batforming rolls mounted on said bottom to move therewith, meansfor imparting a rotary motion to the rolls as they move around with thehopper and a supplemental bottom loosely supported in the hopper torevolve therewith, said supplemental bottom having independentguideways, inclined downwardly to the entrant edges-of IOO IIO

bottom loosely held on the hopper, means for pivotally supporting saidhopper over the to axial center of the head-plate, said bottom havingindependent' guideways, leading toward the slots in the head-plate,asspecified.

FRED G. DIETERICH.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, JESSE MIDDLETON.

